Citroen UK managing director Bek Hassan is leaving the UK for a new senior position in Paris with parent PSA Group.

His replacement, starting June 1, will be British-born Karl Howkins, who is currently managing director of Opel Switzerland, a role he has held since July 2016.

Howkins was previously deputy managing director of FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles UK and fleet operations director for Vauxhall.

Stéphane Le Guével, director general of Peugeot Citroën Automobiles UK, said: “It is a great pleasure to welcome Karl to the team as Citroën UK’s new managing director. The Citroën brand will launch several significant new products in the next few months, so I am pleased that Karl’s appointment is happening now.

“Citroën’s repositioning, in line with its new “Inspired By You” brand signature, is perfectly illustrated by its latest products, its advertising strategy and the new corporate identity for the dealer network. I am totally confident that Karl will build on these recent successes for the Citroën brand, here in the UK.”

Le Guével thanked Hassan for his work with Citroen UK over the past five years. Hassan became UK brand director of Citroen in 2014, 18 months after joining as sales director.

Howkins said: “I am delighted to return to the UK at such an exciting time in the development of the Citroën brand.

“With a raft of new products on the horizon, including the flagship New C5 Aircross SUV this autumn, the opportunities are fantastic to drive profitable growth with our dealer partners.”